Yesterday I posted on Instagram about how I want to add a bunch of patterns to my shop this year, for all types of soft toys (this is in addition to the Make-Along doll series). I had been waiting for my book to go out of print so that the rights to the patterns would revert back to me and I could offer them in the shop for myself. I’m realizing that is not going to happen any time soon so instead I’m going to dive in and self-publish a follow-up to my book, of sorts, with new patterns for toys to sew & love. This way I can sell them individually or in bundles. I was even thinking about being super old school and going back to selling printed patterns as well as PDFs. Is that crazy?? I guess we’ll see. As I said yesterday I have lots of new and old ideas. I’d love to work on new versions of some of the design ideas from the book, like a new topsy turvey doll, a new ribbon haired raggedy ann type doll, more folk inspired designs.

One thing I just realized this morning was that unlike when I was writing the book 8 years ago, I won’t have to keep everything a secret! I can share all my works in progress, my ideas as they develop, my mishaps and successes. That was really a heartbreak for me all those years ago. I was so connected with my maker community and just loved the interactions and friendships and shared experiences involved with crafting together, and then it just went dark. I had to be secretive, absent and solitary, essentially going against every reason I’d started crafting and blogging in the first place. I don’t know why I’m remembering all that now. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I guess I’m just excited to be excited about designing new toys again!